Comedian BERNIE MAC has died after losing his battle with pneumonia.

The 50-year-old passed away on Saturday morning at Northwestern Memorial hospital in Chicago, Illinois.

News of the actor's illness emerged last week, but his publicist Danica Smith released a number of statements earlier this week playing down reports of Mac's deteriorating health.

On Thursday, Smith said Mac was "in a stable condition" and was "responding well to treatment". She even went as far to predict he will be released from hospital within a matter of weeks.

But the actor, who starred in the Ocean's Eleven series and Charlie's Angels, died on Saturday after experiencing complications from the condition, reports TMZ.com.

His representative says, "Actor/ comedian Bernie Mac passed away this morning from complications due to pneumonia in a Chicago area hospital. No other details are available at this time. We ask that his family's privacy continues to be respected."


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